Dispenser



1 V. J. ARUTH June 30, 1953 DISPENSER Filed Oct. 2, 1951 INVENTOR I ARUTH @MQW ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for dispensing granular and hygroscopic materials, such as seasoning and flavoring sub stances.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the aforesaid character having means for maintaining the materials therein in relatively dry, loose dispensing condition. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having heating means adapted to prevent caking or clogging of hygroscopic substances due to moisture absorption.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the above noted character which is highly efiicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the assembled dispensing device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views, I generally designates a hollow body embodying a base plate I I having removably fitted thereon a cover shell l2. The latter is in the form of an elongated, essentially rectangular, cover having a horizontal top Wall 13 integral with a continuous dependin side wall M. The bottom of wall I4 is designed to be slidably fitted into a rabbet groove formed in the periphery of base II and is secured therein by screws Hi.-

In the top I3 of the cover section is provided a relatively large opening I! designed to receive therein a container I8. At the top, container IS, in the form of a cylindrical jar adapted to contain sugar, has a shoulder forming protuberance l9 exteriorly of its top opening to seat upon the cover [2 when the jar is inserted so as to depend into the chamber of hollow body Ill. The sugar jar I8 is normally closed by removable cover 20.

In positions spaced from the jar opening l1, top wall l3 has a pair of smaller openings 22, each of which is adapted to receive therein the main cylindrical section of a shaker 23 adapted to contain a condiment such as salt or pepper. At its upper part the shaker 23 has an enlarged annular shoulder 24 of greater diameter than opening 22 for seating on the top l3. Thus, each of the shakers 23 is removably suspended within the chamber of body member 10, so that either may be removed for use by lifting the same from the cover section l2.

On the base H is fixed an upstanding lamp socket 26 electrically connected with a conventional dry cell battery 21 held in a spring clip 28 secured on the base plate. The socket 26 is adapted to engage an electric light bulb 29, preferably in the form of an elongated bulb, held in vertical position between the sugar jar l8 and salt shaker 23. In order to readily determine whether or not bulb 29 is energized, a circular window forming disk 30 is fixed in an opening 3| in the top plate l3 of the shell.

On one side of shell I2 is mounted a switch element 32 of any preferred construction to control illumination of light bulb 29.

As is well known, granular materials such as salt and sugar become caked and render dispensing and use thereof very difficult, especially under damp climatic conditions. The present dispenser'is made so that whenever the materials thereof are objectionably dampened, light 29 is energized by the battery 2! through operation of switch 32 for a period of time sufficient to heat the condiment and like substances to a degree causing evaporation of excess absorbed moisture so as to enable convenient dispensing thereof.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape or sizes of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device for dispensing hygroscopic and like materials, a hollow body having a plurality of openings in the top thereof, a plurality of containers for granular material seated on said body so as to project through said openings, an electrically energized lamp mounted in said body for heating the material in said containers, and an inspection opening in the top of said body having a transparent covering and disposed vertically above said lamp.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lamp is disposed in upstanding position in a socket fixed in the bottom of the hollow body, and a spring clip mounted in the body to detachably engage an electric battery for energizing said amp.

VIOLET J. ARU'I'I-I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 617,592 Misell Jan. 10, 1899 1,042,156 Shannon Oct. 22, 1912 1,813,449 Howard July 7, 1931 1,993,330 Latiolais Mar. 5, 1935 2,090,666 Copeland Aug. 24, 1937 2,166,728 Page July 18, 1939 2,398,939 I-Iorn Apr. 23, 1946 2,428,996 Schworm Oct. 14, 1947 2,453,425 Freed Nov. 9, 1948 2,577,327 Hill Dec. 4, 1951 

